SEBASTIAN BACH On SKID ROW’s Unwillingness To Reunite Basic Lineup: ‘I Actually Assume That It is A Enterprise Factor’

On March 3, throughout a question-and-answer session with Downtown Julie Brown aboard this yr’s The 80s Cruise, Sebastian Bach as soon as once more spoke about the potential of a reunion of the basic SKID ROW lineup. He stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET; video by Grant’s Rock Warehaus): “There isn’t any motive SKID ROW cannot be collectively. I actually suppose that it is a enterprise factor at this level. However we’re all nonetheless alive, and let’s get the hair band again collectively whereas we have nonetheless bought hair. I’ve no issues… I play with everybody — apart from them. That is actually bizarre.”

He continued, addressing the viewers immediately: “What number of of you guys watched METALLICA‘s ‘Some Form Of Monster’ film? It by no means will get previous. It is all about them having a therapist. And James Hetfield [METALLICA frontman] cannot rehearse previous 4 p.m., and Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] is all mad, slamming the door. However that complete film is about METALLICA working with a therapist. And no one helped SKID ROW or something. It was, like, ‘You guys are by yourself. Determine it out.’ And each e book I learn — AEROSMITH, MÖTLEY CRÜE, each one — is about having anyone serving to them. So perhaps there’s some therapist that desires to receives a commission some cash and put the band again collectively. There isn’t any motive that we’re not collectively.”

Referencing his 2016 autobiography, “18 And Life On Skid Row”, Sebastian stated: “After I first wrote my e book, there was numerous rotten shit in there. However proper when that e book was about to return out, we have been speaking about reuniting [the classic SKID ROW lineup], I swear. I do know that appears loopy, nevertheless it’s true. And my supervisor, Rick Gross sales, goes, ‘Sebastian, take all that rotten shit out of your e book proper now.’ I am going, ‘Actually? I believe folks wanna learn that.’ He goes, ‘No, take it out.’ And I am going, ‘Okay.’ So there is a file on my onerous drive, my pc, that is known as ‘Rotten shit that I took out of my e book.’ And that is perhaps the subsequent e book.”

Requested if he’s nonetheless hoping to get the basic lineup of SKID ROW again collectively, Bach stated: “It isn’t that I am hoping, however there isn’t any motive why to not. There isn’t any motive. They’re, like, ‘Oh, man. He was onerous to work with in 1996.’ 1996? Who remembers 1996? Sorry about 1996. Sorry. It is 2024. Can we transfer on or…?”

Bach fronted SKID ROW till 1996, when he was fired. As an alternative of dropping out, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band known as OZONE MONDAY. In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a little bit of shuffling over time, featured a lineup consisting of bassist Rachel Bolan, guitarists Dave “Snake” Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and singer Johnny Solinger. SKID ROW fired Solinger over the cellphone in April 2015, a couple of hours earlier than saying ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his substitute. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was changed by South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who beforehand fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I. Theart was fired from SKID ROW in February 2022 and was changed by Erik Grönwall, who was beforehand a member of the Swedish onerous rock band H.E.A.T.

Two years in the past, Sabo advised Ruben Mosqueda of We Go To 11 about the potential of a reunion with Bach: “It isn’t even part of any type of thought course of. That is SKID ROW. And that dialog is 23 years previous [since SKID ROW reformed without Bach]. And I’ve no need to… I am not ; none of us are. It comes all the way down to happiness, and we’re actually, actually, actually glad the place we’re at and the way the band sounds and feels. I like enjoying our music, and I like enjoying it with the blokes that we’re enjoying it now with. And so I do not wanna change that. I am in an amazing place personally, and I believe we’re all in an amazing place as a collective.”

In March 2022, Sabo was requested by Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio how he feels about folks nonetheless calling for a reunion with Bach. He stated: “Properly, it has been 23 years [since SKID ROW reformed], so to say that I am over it might be an understatement. We tried [a reunion] barely [back in 2016]. We dipped our toes within the water and realized that it did not really feel so good. It is simply a kind of issues the place we nonetheless couldn’t see eye to eye; we could not even get previous the purpose of straightforward texting.

“I’m actually, actually glad the place we’re,” Snake continued. “I am very pleased with our previous, and all due credit score to all people who’s been concerned in each facet of our profession, whoever that could be, ‘trigger all of it led to the place we are actually.

“I have been requested a thousand instances: ‘What in regards to the payday [of a reunion with Sebastian]?’ And that is all effectively and good, but when that is why I did this — if that is why we did this; I can converse for everyone — we most likely would not be doing it,” Sabo defined. “I wanna be glad, and I am very, very glad. And so are the blokes; all people’s actually glad.

“The music local weather is what it’s, and we’re a basic rock band, and I am pleased with that. And we’re nonetheless capable of make music. I imply, Jeez — I reside a really, very blessed life, man,” Snake added. “I’ve nothing however gratitude and humility for what now we have achieved and for what we’re capable of proceed to do. So whereas there could also be folks on the market who’re flashing greenback indicators with numerous zeroes, I nonetheless must be glad doing it, and I’m. And that is what’s most necessary. I should be glad being in a band with the folks I am in a band with. Lots of different bands can exit and so they do not see one another until they’re on stage and journey on separate buses and all that stuff, and that is all effectively and good, however I do not wanna reside my life like that. I do not wanna be up onstage and form of residing a lie; it simply would not really feel good. So, whereas I am grateful for folks’s curiosity and whatnot, I am much more grateful that we nonetheless get to play music for a residing below our phrases.”

In the summertime of 2021, Bach advised Florida’s 98.7 The Gater radio station that “there isn’t any motive” for the basic SKID ROW to not reunite. “When these guys [in SKID ROW] attempt to say [about me], ‘He is troublesome to work with,’ let me simply say this yet one more time. We’ve got not been in the identical room collectively because the yr 1996,” he stated. “Shut the eff up about you considering you understand what I am like. You do not know something about what I am like. And the ‘Gilmore Ladies’ suppose I am okay to work with; Broadway thinks I am okay to work with; the ‘Trailer Park Boys’ suppose I am okay; GUNS N’ ROSES suppose I am fairly cool. We’re not getting any youthful.”

Sebastian went on to say {that a} SKID ROW reunion “ought to” occur “for the followers. And we’re completely operating out of bands — bands that may play in sheds,” he stated. “The truth that we’re all nonetheless alive and we’re all in our 50s — some nearer to 60 than others — however that, to me, is egocentric that we’re not collectively.

“I can play with anybody. I do play with everybody [laughs] — apart from them.”

4 years in the past, SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan additionally confirmed that he and his bandmates “have been entertaining the thought” of reuniting with Bach following Harnell‘s departure. However Rachel shot down the potential of a rekindling of his friendship with Sebastian, explaining: “Properly… This is the soundbite for Blabbermouth. I would not say we have been mates [when we were in a band together]. We have been bandmates. You understand what I imply? We’re two very completely different folks.” Bolan added that he hadn’t seen Bach “in years.”

5 years in the past, Bach was requested by Rolling Stone what it might take for SKID ROW to be reunited. He responded: “It could take these guys to comprehend that I’ve a lifetime supervisor. His title is Rick Gross sales. I have been with him since 2006. They do not need to cope with a man like that. They need to give some singer who would not have a supervisor $700 to $800 bucks per week. I’ve bought a group that is labored with me and do not permit me to get fucked round. I did not have that group after I was 19 years previous.”

In response to Bach‘s statements in regards to the earnings of SKID ROW‘s singer, Sabo advised Rolling Stone in an e-mail: “I assume fact-checking is not in his talent set… The 5 of us go on that stage as a band and all of us receives a commission equally. We’re on this collectively. There isn’t any egos.”

Sebastian went on to say that SKID ROW was “near reuniting, however then it did not occur. The truth that it did not occur clearly makes me considerably bitter, as a result of life is just getting shorter, because the tune says,” he added.

“I would not say ‘got here shut,'” Bolan advised Rolling Stone in an e-mail response to Bach‘s account of the reunion talks. “We entertained the thought. Snake and I went so far as speaking with brokers and promoters about cash. However we rapidly discovered after a couple of textual content conversations, why we fired him within the first place. Nothing is price your happiness and peace of thoughts.”

Sabo added: “It was already a depressing expertise, and we did not even get on the cellphone.”

In 2021, Bach accomplished a U.S. tour throughout which he celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of SKID ROW‘s sophomore album, “Slave To The Grind”.

Video beneath by Grant’s Rock Warehaus